Starter for explosive-engines.



J. B. AUFULDISH.

STARTER FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

. APPL-mmm man FEB. 3.1912. y

Patented Aug. 31, 1915 -12 SHEETS-sniff i.

@hum/vbo@ 1. B. AUFULDISH, STARTER FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLlcATloN FILED FEB. mm2.' A

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

Lwm;

v. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JHN B. AFULDISH, 0F DAYTON, OHIO.

STARTER vFOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES.

Application. led February 3, 1912.

T0 Zilli/17mm t may concern.

Be it'known that l, JOHN B. UFnLDisH,

citizen ot' the United States, residing at Daytorn in the county of Montgomery and State of hio, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Starters for Explosive-Engines, ot' which the following is a specification. reference being had therein to theacconipanying drawing'.

This invention relates to starters for eX- plosive engines and is designed more particularly for use in connection with automobile engines.

The object oi' the invention is to provide :i starter which will be simple and inexpensive in construction and which will be simple and positive in operation.

lt is also an object of the invention to provide means to-inaintain at all times a charge of explosive gas in storage near the engine cylinders from whence it may pass quickly into the cylinders.

To accomplish these objects it is a further object of the invention to provide a storage receptacle and means actuated by a push rod to connect said receptacle with either the source of Iiras supply or with thev cylinders of said engine.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view oi onel form ot starter embodying? my invention: Fig. 2 is a section taken centrally through the device of Fig. l: Fig. 3 is an end ele ation of the saine; Fig. Ll is a. section taken on the line Z) 7) of Fis". 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line a. a ot' F ig. 2 and looking in the direction oll the arrows; F (i is a plan view of a inodtied torni of the invention: Fig'. 7 isv a section talren centrally through the 'form of the device shown ,in Fig. G: Figi. S is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 6; and Fig. 9 is a detail ot a modilied torni of actuating` device.

ln these drawings l have illustrated two 'toi-nis of starter in which the invention 4is embodied in substantially the same forni. thedeviccs differing in detail only.

ln F ig's. l to inclusive, l have shown the invention en'ibodied in a starter comprisinnj a. cylindrical casing` l. adapted to be secured to the dashboard ot an automobile or other suitable support and preferably havingits grrea test lenfrtli extending parallel with said dashboard or support. This cylinder comprises a receptacle for each cylin- Specication of Letters Eatent.

Patented Anw. 3i, i915.

sel-mino. 675,137.

der of the engine, which receptacles are adapted to be connected with a. source of gas supply and to receive and store charges of an explosive lons, each of which charges is suliicient when injected into a cylinder of ait eng-ine and exploded therein to impart movement to the piston in such cylinder and thus turn over the engine and cause charges of to be drawn into the other cylinders and the engine to operate in the usual manner. The connection between the storage receptacle or receptacles and the several cylinders oil the engine vis controlled by a reciprocating` member, such as a. push-rod, .the movement of which in one direction will establish the connection between the receptacles and the respective cylinders and the movement of which iii the-opposite direction will connect the receptacles with the source of `gas supply. Onediorni of the device also comprises a series of secondary storage receptacles. preferably one for each cylinder or' the engine, which receptacles are interposed between the source of ,g'as supply and the first mentioned storage receptacles, which are connected with the engine cylinders. These secondary receptacles are in communication with the respective firstmentionedreceptacles when the latter are cut oit' from the engine and are disconnected from the first-mentioned receptacles when these are in communication with the engine. Consequently, there are always two charges ot' for cach cylinder supported close to the ene-ine whence they can be quickly in# ject-ed into the same.

In the present construction oi1 the starter the casing l has in one end thereof a recessfl toreceive a receptacle d which is divided 'into four chambers, indicated at The several chambers of the receptacle et are adapted to communicate with the source of gas supply in a manner hereinafter to he described and each has a port G adapted to register with a corresponding port 7 in the wall of the casing' and by moving the recepta cle -l in the recess the ports :'i can be movedinto and out of alinement with the ports 7 in the casing, which latter ports are con-VV nected by means of conduits or tubes S with the respective cylinders of explosive engine. Any snitablc means may be provided for moving` the receptacle in its recess, but,

as here shown. this receptacle constitutes a valve member` both the receptacle and the walls of the recess being ground to form a mares? snug tit and the receptacle is rotated inthe recess or valve seat to establish communication between the chambers thereof and the respective cylinders of the engine. Rotary movement may be imparted to vthe casing by any suitable means, but prefei'ably this means is mounted upon the dashboard or supporting: structure 2, and, in order to sim plity the mechanism as much as possible and at. the same time insure a pause in the movement of the valve member suticient to permit thel gas to pass from the chambers to the cylinder, 1 preier to provide a reciprocatory meniber,'such as a push-rod 9, which is slidably mounted in the dash 2 and operatively connected with the receptacle or valve member. When this rod is at one ein' tremity of its movement the chambers will belconnected with the cylinders, and, in order to disconnect the chambers, it is only necessary to move the .valve in the opposite direction. The slight pause which must necessarily occur duringthe reversal of movement or" the rod affords ample time for the gas to pass to the cylinders and thus insures a charge of gas sufficient to explode and impart movement to the engine. Further,I the push-rod movement is exceedingly simple and requires a minimum amount of mecha'- nism on the dashboard. With it two movements are necessary to start the engine. One is to actuate the pushrod to connect the storage chambers -with the cylinders and -the other to operate the switch to produce the'sparlr in the engine cylinder. The pistons of the several cylinders will be in such positions .that a charge of gas will be retained and exploded in one of them, thus imparting movement tothe piston of' that cylinder and starting the engine. It is not necessary that the storage chamber should be disconnected from the engine before the latter is started, as the usual check valves will be provided at the point of connection of the conduits with the cylinders.

One very simple form of connection between the push-rod and the casing or valve member-is a rack and gear. In the present instance the casing is provided with a stem 10 on which is mounted a mutilated gear 11 and the push-rod 9, is provided with a toothed portion 12, which portion is preferably formed integral with the rod itself and the teeth of which mesh With the teeth of the mutilated gear 11. ln Fig. 9 have shown a modified form of connection between the push-rod 9 and the receptacle and in this connection the stem 10 of the receptacle is provided with a crank disk 13 which is connected with the push-.rod by means of a link or connecting rod 14. Either of these two methods4 of connection of any other suitable method of connection may be employed. i

The several chambers offthe receygitacle may be connected with the source of gas supply in any suitable manner but preferably I interpose between the chambers of the receptacle 4; and the source of gas supply a second storage receptacle. .ihis storage receptacle has a capacity equal to the capacity of the four chambers of the receptarle f1 and is preferably divided into four compartments, each of which communicates with the respective chamber of the receptacle 4. As here shown the secondary storage chamber is formed in the casing 1 'and is di vided by partitions 15 into four compart ments 16. The secondary storage receptacleA is separated from the recess 23 in which the receptacle 4 is mounted by means of a partition or head 17 in which is formed a valve seat 18 and which is also provided at the base of the valve seat 18,with a series of ports 19 communicating with the respective compartments of the storage chamber.

The receptacle et isprovided at its inner end with an extension 20 having a tapered end adapted to tit into. 'thelvalve seat 18 and having formed therein a series of ports 21 corresponding in number with the ports 19 and arranged to register with those ports spring 22 is confined between a p in 23 mounted in the extension 2() and a washer 2li mounted on the extension 2O and engaging the edges of the casing 1 on opposite sides of the recess 3. This spring tends to 'when the casing 4 is in one position. A Y

hold both the extension 20 in engagement with the valve seat 18 and the receptacle 4 in contact with the walls of the recess 3. The ports 21 are so arranged with reference `to the ports 6 that when the latter are in communication with the ports 7 in the casving the ports 21 will beout ot alinement with the ports 19: Consequently, the chambers of the receptacle will be cut otl' from. the source of gas supply and only the measured charge contained 1n each chamber will be admitted to the engine. lt desired the communication between the secondary storage receptacle and the source of supply may also be cut oit' while the chambers f1 are in communication with the engine, thus providing a double cut-btt between these chambers and the source of supply. 1n nthe lpresent instance that end of the casing 1 adjacent to the secondary chamber is closed by a cap 25 screw-threaded into the end o the casing and spaced some distance away from the ends of the partitions 15 and compartments 16, thus forming in this space a chamber 26 which communicates with the source of supply by means of a conduit 2? formed along the side of the casing 1 and connected with a passageway or conduit 28 in a nipple' 29. The 'passageway 280i the nipple is arrangedmeans of suitable valves, such as are there Would remain all the advantages above of the push-rod is provided with a plunger or piston 30 which lits snugly in the passage 28 and, when the push-rod is in its innermost position, will extend across the end of the conduit 27 and close the same, thus cutting oli' the chamber 26 and the storage chamber from the source of supply. This source of supply may be of any suitable cl'iaracter and any suitable-explosive gas or vapor may be employed but the present device is designed especially for use with acetylene gas and the source of supply may be a generator or tank commonly known as a presto-lite tank, which tank may be carried on any convenient part of the automobile, usually at a distance greatly removed from the engine. By interposing the storage chambers between the source of supply and the engine and arranging them close to the engine there is always a charge of gas in a position .from whence it will pass quickly to the cylinders without the delay incident to the travel of the gas `from the source of supply through the long conduit to the engine and enabling the charge to be injected in the engine by a very brief pause in the movement of the operating device and avoiding any possibility of this device being operated so quickly as to prevent proper charges entering the cylinders. Further, these chambers insure not only a suliicient charge but also that the charge will not be too great as might readily result if the operator were required to gage the length of time the source of supply was connected with the cylinders. lf the secondary chamvber is eliminated and the chambers e connected directly with the chamber 26 by shown,

recited but by utilizing the secondary storage chamber have two charges of gas close to the engine and it is possible to inject these charges in the engine in rapid succession should the engine fail to start on thc first charge, either because of the lack of the proper supply of -gas from the carburetor or the failure of the spark, or any other i'eason. It will be noted that when the push-red is in its outermost position both the primary and secondary storage chambers will be in communication with the source of gas supply and will be cut or? from the cylinder When the push-rod is in its Ainnermost position the primary storage chambers `vill be connected with the respective cylinders of the engine and will be cut ofi from the seeondary cylinders and these latter will also be cut oil from the source of supply but will contain charges of gas ample to again supply the primary chambers. Consequently, ii the operator fails to disconnectthe primary cylinders from the engine and shuts down his engine with the starter in this position he i 'will still have ample gas in a position to be readily injected into the engine and it will only be necessary to impart a complete re-` ciprocation to the push-rod to inject thesecharges into the cylinder inasmuch as the pause required to reverse the movement of the push-rod will be ample tor the gas to pass from the secondary to the primary chambers. f the primary chambers are disconnected from the engine prior to the time it is desired to again operate the starter the operation would be the same as if the secondary chambers were omitted altogether.

rlhe casing l may be constructed in any suitable manner but for convenience oft manufacture and to permit of the ready access to the parts thereof l prefer to form the same in two parts, one containing the primary storage receptacle and the other containing the secondary storage chamber and constituting a storage receptacle separate from the first-mentioned storage-receptacle. In the present instance the tufo parts of the casing are connected together by providing one part with internal screw threads and the other part with a screwthreaded flange to engage said screwthreads, as indicated at 47.

ln Figs. 6, 7 and 8 I have illustrated a slightly modified torni of the invention. As

.here shown a casing 3l is secured to the supporting structure in the same manner.

as 1s the casing l above described. This casing has a recess or`valve seat 32 similar to the recess 3 and having mounted therein a receptacle having single cliamber,A

which chamber is normally in con'in'iunication with the source oi gas suppiy, preierably by means of a port 3% extending lthrough one end of the receptacle and communicating with the chamber 35 in the ing 31, wnich chamber is connected by means of a conduit 3G with a source of supply. A receptacle 33 provided with one or more ports 3? arranged to be Ymoved into tration with one or more ports 38 formed in the casing 3i, and connected with a cylinder or cylinders oft' the engine by means o a conduit or conduits 39. The receptacle 33 is movable and by imparting proper movement thereto the port or ports therein can be caused to register with the port orports in the casing ieading to the cyl-in# der of the engine. ports in the casing and in the receptacle may be varied according to circumstances .l prefer to provide the casing with a port for each cylinder and to provide the receptacle with a similar number et "ts, which latter ports may be arranged ei ister simultaneously with the respect-ive ports in the casing or 'to register successi vely with the several ports in the casing. The exhaust lvalve or vaives oit one or 'more cylinders will always be open and any ldhile the number of er te regllt:

lli

` will receive a proper charge.

however, it is essential that the communicacylinders Will pass immediately to the atmosphere. Consequently, if the receptacle 33 is placed in communication simultanecylinders, vallowing time in eachinstance,

for suiiicient gas to pass from the receptacle to the cylinder to charge the latter, thereby dividing the gas in the receptacle equally or substantially so between the several cylinders, thus insuring that the cylinder which is in condition for an explosion Motion may be imparted to the receptacle 33 in any suitable manner, preferably by means of agear 40 and a push-rod 1 having a toothed portion, as above described. In this instance,

tion between the engine and the source of supply shouldv be interrupted and l have, therefore, provided means for automatically returning the receptacle to its normal position. `This means, as here shown, comprises a spring 42 connected at one end ivith the rack 41 and at the other end with the supporting structure 2. A spring 43 coiled about an extension 44 on one end of the receptacle 33 and confined between a stop l5 on the outer end of the stem and a washer 46 resting against the casing on opposite sides of the recess 32 serves to hold the casing snugly in engagement with the walls of the recess.

While l' yhave shown and described two forms in Which the invention may be em- 'bodied-it 'Will be understood that these twov forms were chosen for the purposes of illustration only and that I do not desire to Vbe limited to the details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications Will occurI to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention,

'what I claimas'new and desire to secure by in said cas1ng,'and means for imparting,

movement to said receptacle toconnect the ports therein with the corresponding ports 1 in said casing.

"QSTiies'tarer, a casing having aplurality of ports'ronnected with the respective cylinders 'oiy en engine, ja. receptacle movablv Lis-ies? mounted in said casing and having a series a port, a gear operatively connected with said movable receptacle, and a push-rod having a toothed portion meshing With said gear.

4. In a. starter, a casing having a port connected with an engine, a receptacle movably mounted in said casing to receive and store a charge of gas, said receptacle communicating with a source of gas supply and having a. port, and a push-rod operatively connected With said movable receptacle In a starter, a casing having a',p`ort connected with an engine, and a receptacle movably mountid in said casing to receive and store a charge of gas, said receptacle having a port adapted to register with the port in said casing and communicating with a source of gas supply, and. means to impart movement to said receptacle and to control the length of time said ports are in register one with the other.

6. ln a starter, a casing having a plurality of ports connected with the respective cylinders of an engine, a receptacle movably mounted in said casing and having a plurality of ports adapted to register With the respective ports in said casing, and means to impart movement to said-receptacle and to control the length of time the ports of said receptacle shall remain in register With the ports of said casing. I

7. In a. starter, a casing having a recess therein, a port connecting said recess With an engine, a receptaclerotatably mounted in said recess to receive and store a charge of gas an having a port to register with the port in said casing, and means for rotating said receptacle.

8. ln a starter, l,a easing having a recess therein,. a. port connecting said recess With an engine, a receptacle rotatably mounted in said recess to receive and store a charge oi" gas and having a port toregisterwith theport in said casing, a gear connected to-said.

receptacle, and a push-rod having a toothed portion meshing with said gear. y

9. lin a starter, a casing having a recess therein and having a series of ports connecting said recess with the respective cylinders of an engine, a receptacle rotatably mounted in said recess and divided into a plurality of compartments and each cornpartment having a port adapted to register with the corresponding port in said casing, and means t'oiI actuating said receptacle to cause the ports therein to register with the ports in said casing.

10. ln a starter, a casing having a recess therein and having a series of ports connecting said recess with the respective cylinders ol an engine, a receptacle rotatably mounted in said recess and divided int-o a pluralityot" compartments and each coinpartincnt having a port adapted to register with the corresponding port iii said casing, and a rack and gear mechanism connected with said recepiiclc to rotate the same and cause the ports therein to register with the ports in said casing.

1l. ln a starterT a distributor comprising two storage receptacles coniniunicating with each other and with a source of gas supply, and ineaiisfor connecting one of said receptacles with a cylinder of an engine.

l2. In a starter, two receptacles, conduits; to connect one of said .receptacles with trie cylinder of an engine and to connect Athe other of said receptacles with a source of gas supply, and means for establishing coniniuiiication between said receptacles and for interrupting said communication and connecting the first-mentioned receptacle with the cylinder of said engine.

13. In a starter, a casing having two storage chambers, a conduitl to connect one of `said storage chambers with a cylinder of an engine and to connect another of said chainbers with a source ot' gas supply, said casing havin" ports to connect said chambers one to the other7 and operabie means to connect the first-mentioned chamber with the conduit leading to said engine andto close said ports to disconnect said first-mentioned chamber .from the last-mentioned chamber.

il. In a starter, a casing having recesses near the opposite ends thereof7 each recess constituting a sto age chamber, said casing also having ports leading from one of said recesses to the cylinders of an engine, a port connecting the other of saidrecesses with a source of gas supply, and ports toconnect. said recesses one with the other, a. rotary member mounted in that recess which is connected with the engine and having ports to cegister with the ports leading to said engine and having other ports to register with the ports leading to the other chamber, and meansior moving said receptacle to place the same in communication with the engine and disconnect the same from the other chaniber.

i5. in a starter. a casing haring recesses recesses to the cylinders of an engine, a port connecting the other of said recesses with a source ot gas supply, and ports to connect said recesses one with the other, a rotary receptacle mounted iii that chamber haif'ing ports leading to said engine and having a plurality ot compartments corresponding in number with the ports leading to saidengine and having ports to register with the ports leading to said engine, each of said compartments also having a port to communicate with the ports leading to the chamber which is connected with the source of gas supply, and means to rotate said receptacle to control the positions of the ports therein.

1G. In a starter, a casing haring' two recesses therein, one ot said recesses communieating with a source of gas supply and hai'- iug a series of compartments, each compartment haring a port, the other of said recesses having a series of ports leading to the cylinders ot' an engine, a receptacle rotatably mounted in the last-mentioned recess having a series of compartments correspondii'ig in number to the compartments in the iirstmentioned recess and havingports to register with tinl ports leadiinr to sa id engine and having other ports to re ter with the ports of the compartments of the first-mentioned chamber, and means to rotate said receptacle.

17. ln a starter, a casing having two recesses, a conduit connecting one ot said re- JonaT n. aoriinnisn. Witnesses:

Bonnin' GLDHAM, l IlAiiRin'r L. I-AMMAKER. 

